Mount for flexible synchronized guns



April 1929- H. o. RUSSELL ET AL 1,710,114

MOUNT FOR FLEXIBLE SYNCHRONIZED GUN S Filed April 18, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E E a nnnnnnn April 1929- I H. o. RUSSELL ET AL 1,710,114

MOUNT FOR FLEXIBLE SYNCHRONIZED GUNS Filed April 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r III] v i I O I l O I I I i 19 "0'- s I I I 1 25 26 0' -Q| 6501-2631; eig fi, Tau/Z ps 3 i Patented Apr. 23, 9

Application filed A rn s,

j' I This invention relates to a fiexiblemount .VQZEOI a synchronized aircraft. machine gun.

The object [of the invention is to produce a'flexiblemou'nt which is adapted to permit adjustment of the gun during the firing l operation in synchronism with the propeller, c andwhich will advance or retard the time of i ;.c the firing impulses when the gun is shifted to the left or to the right. The mechanism is also .adaptedto' decrease the amount of j leadjin the timingwhen the gun is pointed 80 as to bring the line of lire nearer to thej'hubof the propeller.

ith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, "combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and claimed. j Intheaccompanying drawings:

, Figure ,1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the improved flexible gun mount. 1 Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

v Figure 3 is an end view thereof. I

Figure 4: is a view partly in side elevat on and partly iu'seotion ofthe time-controlling "mechanism' of the impulse generator, J Figure 5 is an elevation thereof taken at a right' angleito Figure 4. JFigure 6118 a cross section on the line 3016 -6 of Figure 4:. V I r '7 Iteferring to the drawings, the gun mount ,embodies a frame which is bolted or otherwise fastened, to the gun inv fixed relation thereto. Said frame, in the preferred embodiment" of theinvention, comprises a pair 7 of side plates 1 arranged in spaced relation to each other and suitably connected .togetherby'lbolts or tie members as shown in Figures 2 and 3. I j

j The'frame above referred to is fastened to the gun at its trunnions and'the side'plates arepivotally connected to the horizontal lat; Reral pin 2' carried by a normally vertical "rotatable stub shaft 3 the latterbeing jour- 5. jnaled in a bearing 4 in eccentric relation to lea .threaded shaft 3, supported rigidly in "a bearing 5 of a bracket 6.

-"f The bracketfi is adapted to be fastened .to anysuitable supporting base and is held 5.01 stationary. A vertical control pin 7 slidable through a bearing sleeve 8 is supported 1 between the plates-1, the sleeve 8 being sustained bycrossmembers 9. A segmental or ears , nnnnnnro. RUSSELL, or person, MICHIGAN, AND CHARLES LEIGH- PAULUS, or

- nAYTomoHIo, H

iFFiQE].

MOUNT r03 FLEXIBLE sYnorI onIz'En eons.

1922. 7 Serial No. 555,415.

sector control gear 10 is rotatably mounted between adjusting nuts on the threaded shaft 3 and embodies a longitudinally grooved arm 11 in which is inserted a ball or spherical head 12 on the lower endof the control pin 7, the ball 12 being slidable along the groove of armll.

The gear 10 meshes with a pinion 13 ad justably secured on a vertical threaded shaft llejournaled in bearings 15 and 16 in the bracket 6. 'The lower end of the shaft '14 in conjunctionwvith a threaded nipple 17 .isadapted to receive one end of a flexible shaft 18 leading to the impulse generator 19, shown in Figure 1. The other end of the flexible shaft 18 is coupled to a worm shaft 20 journaled in a,housing 21 and forming a part of the impulse generator assembly.

Fast on the shaft 20 is a worm gear 22 which meshes with a sliding worm rack face 23 on one side of an adjustable sleeve 24;, the latter surrounding the shaft 25 of the impulse generator.

The impulse generator shown in Fig ure 4,

is of the Nelson type, modified. The shaft 25 is divided into upperandlower sections 26 and 27 respectively, theends of which abut as shown in Figures; The shaft sections 26 and 27 are relatively adjustable axially. To this "end the shaft sections 26 and 27 are formed with spiral ways or grooves 28 and 29 which are reversely inclined. v That is to say one of the. ways is a. righthand spiral and the other a left hand spiral, The sleeve 24 carriesinternally projecting pins 30 and 31 which work in the grooves 28 and 29. An expansion spring 32 resists the downward movementof said sleeve 24.

The operation of the mechanism here nabove describedis as follows. When the gun is adjusted around the axis of the shaft 3, the control. pin 7 operating through gears 10 and 13 causes a partial rotation of the shaft 14 and this motionyis.communicated through the flexible'shaft 18 to the worm gear 22. I Through themedium of the rack face 23, thewo'rm gear causes a downward or upward'movement of the sleeve 24 with theresult that the shaft section 25 of the impulse generator is turned through a given arewith respect to the shaft section 27 In the drawing the sleeve is shown moved to anxtreme upward position; It will nor-V mally occupy a haliway'position with the gun horizontal and directed straight ahead parallel to the fore and aft axis of the ship;

This shifting of the relation, of the shaft sections changes the timing-of :-the impulse generator giving surlicient lead ,toprevent' the bullets from strikln the "propeller --blades. during the firingor the gun in -tl1islaterally adyusteglv pos1t1on. That is, the

time of firing advanced ion' defle ction of the gun ,to the left and 1s retarded on dethe control "pin" 7 "of the gear lOand effects 'no' adjustment since that s not necessar during such adjustment offthe gun. Shouldthe gun he adj usted laterally. 'and vertically, the timing is advancedand retarded to different extents depending on the proxim ty of the fir ng with" the propeller hub. If the aim is closer to the hub, lesslead is'given in advancing er retarding the timing-of firing as the case proach the hub,there JSlGSS and'less latltude relativ propeller concerned- A I v r V The in'rzmgeme'nt of the" gun mount amaybe,fthan when the aim is more toward thetip' of the propeller. The reason for-this is appar nt, since the area included between t'wo'pos tions of apropeller blade is triangus gmental 1nv form, that is, you apfor firin withouthittin the re veller t: F v a p blade, as theiree or safe area becomes more and more restricted.

closely due to thelpresence of obstructions between the gun and the propel er, so that lyonly a small correctionin lead is necessary so far safely firing through the unit revolving ona swivel eccentric to the axis .of revolution of the arm 11. enables giving a different lead tothelfiring whenthe gun is elevated, frointhat when the gun is depressedwhere the firing; not directly straight ahead, as, in thatcaseno variation 111 tnning ls needed, as was statedghefore.

' This eccentricity which is necessarily only slight, is shown in Fig. 1 where the stub shaft '3 is off center, relativeito the shaft 3, and

I end 12' of the pin cT'is closer to the'shaft is displacedto the front: This arrangement, it will be seen, causes a lesserangular,m0ve-' ment to be; communicated to "the arm 11 when the gun is depressed, because thefba'll" about which the gun'mount turns. WVhen the gun is elevated the arm ll'is given a greater angular movement with a given angular movement'ofthe gun mount; sincef in that case the ballfend 12 of the pin-f Topemt'es farther out -'in thef'guide on the brought up closer-tothe gun mounttl he generator shaft "brought closerto the gun mount. I ,Having thus described our invention, we 90);:

Of course the. ,fir ng can in-no case approach the hub very means'dependent u ontheverti I axis to bring the line of. fire,nearerftobr fa'rarni 11, the ballend beingfartherremoved'from the shaft 8. If theshaft 3'and shaft 31 were coaxial, it is obvious] they" would turn through an I equal angle no matter how: far

r'en' ov'ed the ball end 12 was from the shaft" 7o 3, but it is the eccentricity .vofitheishaftifi relative to the shaft 3, which produces the Operation; described. Thus, a smaller ad vance -or retard in the time of firing is made when thegun is aimed closer to the propeller V hubthan is the case when the aimiis'toward the tip-of the propeller; The adfustmen t 1 of the arm 11 the r sector gear-1O and gear l3 on the shafts 3' 7 and 14 respect vely, enables changing 'the extent'of the-correction in lead inthe firing for different propellers.- When the arm 1l=is 7 is confined'tolope smaller" j ting within a1 range in the gui'clein the arm 11,. thanf i's' the o case when the' arm 1'1 is' lowered away from the gun mount-i Th us a smallerextent of change in lead W ill' 'result when:

lfThe'co-mbination ofa inachinefg un, -flexible mount*therefor, an lmpulse genera tor, and means 'dependentupon the vertical" angular movement 'of said-flexible mount for automatically varyin zjthe timing of the impulses of said generator in proportion to the up and down movement ofthe gun t'o decrease or increase}theFamOuHt of leadin. the

firing when'the gun isjpointedfeloser to or 100,

farther from thepropeller hub, f- I A flexible "mount for a synchronized machine gun having'meansto p'erniit adjustg f ment of th'e'gun during firing 1n synchr0 nism with the'propeller, and o -11avm 1o p l angulari movement of sard exlble mount to "decrease,

v or increase the amount'gofleadin'the timingf when the gun is revolved abouta horizonta.

ther from -the h ubli'of tllepropelle-r',,and is swungto the right' and left? advaneeand retard the timin when the-gun i In combination, .a gun mount Ipivotally i mounted on a supporh 'a flexible 7 said gun mount and; saidfsupport adap'tec'llflto transmit and vary motion of sai dgun,

flexible shaft, fa"rack loperable bv said-worm, f

ing one-shaft portionfof ajtwo part'fimpulse shaftin a l helical islet therein, the two sail two studs on" said rack each"slidablyien-galg i120' slot-s being outwith opposite inclines,the a): i V

tation of said worm govern ng the relative positions of the two p oifions ofsaid impulse shaft. 5 l Q p 4. Incombination, gun mount, pivotal-11y mounted on a; support, a flexible's'haft, means i on said gun mount and; said supportfadapteilff,' .v to tral' snntand vary; mot onfofisaid gun" 1301v means on mount to said flexible shaft, a two part impulse shaft, andmeans operable by said flexible shaft'to govern the relative positions of the two portions of said impulse shaft for the purpose described. 7 g 5. In combination, a flexible gun mount 'carried by a support, an impulse shaft, a flexible connection between said gun mount and said impulse shaft for transmitting motion ofthe former to the latter, and means I forming a part of said flexible connection f gun mount.

whereby proportional and differential movenients are given said impulse shaft in different positions of said gun mount.

6. In combination a flexibly mounted gun,

an impulse generator and means to retard or advance said generator in deflect ons of said @gun mount, said means operating to effect different retarding or advancing of said gen- 7 eratoi'v when the gun is elevated or depressed.

7. In combination, a flexible gun mount turning on a swivel support, an impulse generator, means to advance or retard the imi, pulse generator in the traversing of said gun mount, and means turning on a center eccentric to said gun mount swivel support for transmitting differentially the turning movement of, said gunmount to said last men tioned means.

8. In combination, a flexible gun mount turning on a swivel support, an impulse generator, means to advance or retard the imf pulse generator in the traversing of said gun ,mount, and means turning on a center eccentric to said gun mount swivel support for transmitting differentially the turning movement of said gun mount to said last men- 1 tioned means, the extent of movement transmitted varying with the degree of elevation of the gun.

I 9. In combination, a flexible gun mount turning on a swivel support, an impulse generator, means to advance or retard the im-.

pulse generator in the traversing of said .gun mount, and means turning on a center eccentric to said gun mount swivel support 1 .?for transmitting differentially theturning I movement of said gun mount to said last .mentioned means, a amount of movement movement of said gun mount being transrelatively greater mitted to said last mentioned means when the gun is elevated than when the gun is' depressed.

10. In combination, a flexible gun mount carried on a'swivel support, a follower for said gun mount oscillating on an axis eccentric with said swivel, an impulse genera tor and meansfor transmitting the angular movement of said follower to said impulse generator to advance and retard the timing of firing according to the position of said 11. In combination a flexible gun mount carried on a swivel support, a guide member for a given angular acting as a follower for the gun mount oscillating on a center eccentric to said swivel .support, a pin slidably received in said gun mount having an end bearing in saidguide, in all positions of elevation and depression of the gun to transmit angular movement of said gun mount to said guide,f an impulse generator and means for transmitting move ment ofsaid guide to said impulse generator to advance and retard the timing of firing according to the position of said gun mount.

12. In combination, a flexible gun mount carried on a swivel support, a guide member acting as a follower for the gun mount oscillating on a center eccentric to said swivel support, a pin slidably received in said gun mount having an end bearing in said guide, in all positions of elevation and.

depression of the gun to transmit angular movement of said gun mount to said guide, an impulse generator and means for transmitting movement of said guide to said impulse generator to advance and retard the timing of firing according tothe position of said gun mount, the degree of advancing and retarding depending on the position of said pin in said guide, in the elevation and depression of said gun mount.

13. In combination, a flexible gun mount operating on a vertical swivel, a sector gear operating on an axis eccentric to said swivel and displaced to the rear thereof relative to the gun mount, a gear turned by said sector, an impulse generator connected with said gear and an arm for operating said sector inthe lateral swinging of said gun.

mount.

14. In combination, a flexible gun mount operating on a vertical swivel, a sector gear operating 'on an axiseccentric to said swivel and displaced to tlie rear thereof relative to the gun mount, a gear turned by said sector,

an impulse generator connected with said said gear, and a vertically sliding pin on said gun mount having its lower end slidably engaging said arm to transmit swinging movement thereto in the movement of the gun mount, communicating more or less angular movement of said gun mount, depending on the elevation or depression of the gun which causes said pin to operate at different positions in or out on said arm.

16. In combination, a flexible gun mount 7 i4 V v 1,710,114

operating 011 e vertical swivel, a sector gear and means, for. adjnsting sai d ar m ftoward I operatlng on an axle: eccentrlc tOSilICl swlvel and away from Send gun mount.

and displaced to the rear thereof relative In. testimony whereof We have fmiuo to the gun mount, a gear turned byy said signatures." 5 Sector; an impulsegenerator connected with a j 5 a 7 said gealg'an arm for operating saidse'otor HERBERTIO. .RUSSELL.-:

' 'in'the lateral swinging ofsaid-gun mount, CHARLESLEIGH PAULUS. 

